Staff Biography

Sr. Brenda Eagan, IBVM, Doctorate of Ministry
Director, Medical School Ministry

Life before Loyola doesn’t seem to exist even though my professional ministry consisted of work as a social worker, youth minister, pastoral associate, high school teacher and dean of students before I started as a Campus Minister at Loyola in 1988. I studied Theology at Catholic Theological Union and University of Toronto, St. Michael and earned by Masters in Religious Studies at Loyola University Chicago. I completed the Doctor of Ministry in Theological Reflection for Young Adult Peer Ministry at the University of St. Mary of the Lake in 1996.

I am a member of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary. www.ibvm.us I am indeed a Mary Ward Sister with all her particular unique qualities that compelled her to desire to serve God in the Church in the way of Ignatius Loyola to meet the needs of the times; even in her day she recognized that “women in time to come would do much.” I strive to be one of her women. I entered the Institute in September of 1981. My life and work are blessed with an incredible sense of mission and purpose in a setting of highly gifted, motivated and intelligent men and women who feel called to serve as doctor-servant-healers in society. I dwell amongst a generous spirit of co-ministers, students and professionals whose common mission to teach, care, and serve are at the heart of everything we do.

As Director of Ministry I have the privilege to serve as advocate for my staff and our programs which seek to foster spiritual growth and development through providing a rich cross-section of activities and reflections at the service of medical students, faculty and staff at Loyola’s Stritch School of Medicine. In my early years at Stritch the former Director, Maureen Fuechtmann invited me to join Ministry at SSOM in order to further develop the growing interest in International Service Immersion, Retreats, Local outreach efforts, Liturgical life and other spiritual development opportunities. These programs continue to grow and impact curricular and extracurricular life at Stritch. In addition to my administrative responsibilities with our core leadership team: Fr. Larry Reuter, SJ –Associate VP for Mission Identity and Ministry, Marie Coglienese, Director of Pastoral Care; I have the distinct pleasure to join my own creative energies and over-sight in our medical school programs that include the International Service Immersion program, community building activities, spiritual and faith formation programs, and other service and mentoring opportunities. We continue to hold to the value of “loitering with intent” to add our presence to the personal and professional journey of the young people we are privileged to serve. I get a personal sense of satisfaction in my work with little projects such as Gospel and Liturgical choirs that contribute greatly to the spirit of worship, praise and celebration to our entire SSOM and LUMC community.